FOR tkstrand <3

it's this incredible, sweet, hilarious person's birthday so here's a special one shot in her honor! featuring my precious benjamin and her character orphiel, meaning i don't own her, this is simply my take on her.

holly, you're an awesome friend and you deserve all the love and appreciation in the world! i hope you have an amazing day and enjoy this little piece of our children getting together ❤️

IT HAD BEEN quite a while since Benjamin Espinoza had set foot in Lux, though he had certainly missed being in the club. With Lucifer's hand in his, he was being led through the sea of people and up the stairs, all the way to the elevator that he so hated standing in while the beat of the music kept his feet bouncing. He had stayed in many places, never too long in one, but of all the beds he had slept in, none felt quite as home as Lucifer's did. The club mixed with the penthouse meant more to him than words could describe, really.

Little did he know, it had become something of a home to someone else too. Not a permanent place, but a source of comfort and warmth to someone... unexpected.

"Now, I should give you a heads-up, so to speak. I've had an avid house guest these past weeks", Lucifer cleared his throat awkwardly while they stood side by side in the elevator, and already lifting an eyebrow, Benji observed the man's thoughtful expression. Almost like he was nervous — and that was a word very rarely used to describe the Devil.

"Okay. I'm open to suggestions but I'm not sure I have the energy for a threesome right after my flight", he shrugged casually, hoping to relieve some of Lucifer's discomfort with the words he meant only partly as joking. The Morningstar did slip out an amused laugh, but the shake of his head proved that Benji hadn't exactly hit the bullseye with his guess.

Before he could elaborate any further, the elevator doors were opening with a ping, and Benjamin didn't hesitate to leap out of the lift only to come face to face with a blonde woman, a radiant smile on her lips while she poked at her phone with curious eyes. With his mouth opening slowly and his eyebrows flying high, Benji made a turn on his heel and gave Lucifer a puzzled look. "You do realize I'm a full-on six on the Kinsey scale, right?"

"Yes, lucky me", Lucifer retorted with a delicate touch on Benjamin's cheek before he stepped past him and gestured at the girl lounging on his couch. "I've come across some extended family, actually. Come on, let's get you two formally introduced, shall we?" he proceeded while offering a hand to the blonde that perked up at the sight of a stranger in their company, the same curious look in her eyes although she retreated into her own space, at the same time. She was almost puppy-like — seemingly cheerful but careful to get to know the new person, wary before letting her walls down.

Benjamin, on the other hand, didn't hesitate to stick out his hand and flash a grin. "You're adorable. I'm Benjamin or Benji", he spoke the same words he had many times before, always as packed with charm. To be fair, he had usually used that charm to impress attractive men — safe to say, being tied down to only one man and shooting his most deviant smile at a woman was far from his normal. But when it came to Lucifer and his family, he was sure he could get used to it.

"Orphiel. Lucifer's niece", the blonde pronounced slowly, her eyes reviewing Benji from head to toe before supposing that his welcoming smile and general enthusiasm made him safe enough to approach. A shy smile curled up her own lips as she took Benjamin's hand and gave it a gentle shook, the timid gesture only widening his grin as he pointed at her and turned to Lucifer.

"Love this girl already", he gushed, his previous exhaustion suddenly nowhere to be found. As much as he loved Maze, and as much as he enjoyed Amenadiel's company, the demon could be a little too intense, whereas the angel was difficult to bring out of his tiresome, boring shell. Orphiel, however, seemed like the perfect middle ground with her kind nature and curious tendencies.

"Actually", she cut in with a quiet cough, "I'm not just... a girl. Half-demon, half-angel", her correction only widening Benjamin's eyes while crossing his arms over his chest and nodding apologetically.

Perfect middle ground, indeed.

"That is extremely cool. I believe this calls for a drink", Benji announced with a clap of his hands before nodding back towards the elevator, an inviting gesture encouraging Orphiel to join him. Before the two could escape downstairs to the bar, though, Lucifer was intervening.

"Um, excuse me? Isn't she far too young to be drinking? With you?" he questioned, almost offended by the idea, but when Benjamin turned back to him with a similar stare, Lucifer was rushing in to continue. "All the love intended, of course. But—", he adjusted his wording, only for Benjamin to cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"Since when is the Devil such a square? If I had known my absence softened you this much, I would have come back earlier", Benji winked jokingly. "She can have a little bit of fun, right? Don't be the dull uncle, babe", he went on after sliding an arm over Orphiel's shoulders and giving her a look to ensure it was okay. When she didn't protest, a smile crossed his lips once more and he threw a curt wave at Lucifer before heading for the elevator.

As far as he was concerned, he had always been meant for the role of a fun uncle, and since he couldn't exactly take Trixie partying, he was taking all the fun out of having someone else to spoil.

—————

AN HOUR INTO teaching Orphiel what shots were, Benjamin was positively buzzed by the bar counter, eyes hazy and his lips turned into a lopsided half-smile. Orphiel had grown a little more relaxed and open in the process, though the alcohol failed to affect her permanently. Benji, too, had quite the high tolerance, but not supernatural, meaning he was the only one headed for drunk while sharing stories with the girl he absolutely loved.

"So, you and my uncle, then?" Orphiel noted with a hum, not exactly asking any specific question but even when tipsy, Benji could read between the lines. Had his cheeks not been flushed already, they would have definitely grown pink at the mention of Lucifer and their relationship.

"Oh, you bet. It's a little complicated but it's special, too", he rambled with his heart swelling at all the memories they had together, some sweet, some bitter, some a mixture of both. But rather than diving into the details, he downed yet another shot before turning to Orphiel with an intrigued stare. "How about you? Anyone special in your life?"

Her face, however, was very capable of heating up, and when it did, Benji was oohing loudly at the possibilities. But when Orphiel didn't elaborate any further, he was sighing and shrugging, as if it was no big deal. "It's fine, I didn't need to know, anyway", he insisted casually, only for the blonde beside him to stifle a laugh and lift an observing eyebrow at him.

"You're lying", she commented boldly, earning a wide-eyed look in response to the confident remark. "It's a thing I can do, apparently", Orphiel continued while looking at her own empty glass, not quite sure what was the point of their senseless drinking, but she did enjoy Ben's company deeply. "Tell when people are lying, I mean", she added once more when she turned back to the man and found him blankly staring, not knowing where to begin with all her mystery.

Gasping, Benjamin clasped his hands together, already plotting. "Okay, I'm gonna tell you something about myself and you say if it's a lie or the truth", he snickered, only a little drunk but very much pleased when Orphiel nodded in agreement.

"I once made out with a cop in the back of his patrol car."

"True."

"I've been in a car crash."

"True."

"I stole a cheesecake with my one night stand."

"Lie."

With an impressed nod, Benji gestured for the bartender to deliver more drinks before facing Orphiel with a slow grin. "You're right. It was a chocolate cake, not a cheesecake", he corrected, earning a genuine, light laugh from the woman.

"You've certainly lived a wild life", she agreed, something almost longing in her eye as she thought about what she had done and achieved. She had seen much too, but not as much as the experienced traveler by her side. But the one thing they had in common without a doubt was that both had struggled and suffered in search of their happy endings.

"Oh, I'm sure you have too! I don't have a neat trick like you but I'm very happy to hear out whatever you've got", Benji exclaimed, a hand clamping onto Orphiel's shoulder while he radiated support and affection. It was easy to form a friendship with him, that was for sure, even if their personalities were far from matching. Maybe that was what made them such a formidable duo, though — they complimented each other in a way that excited Benji and comforted Orphiel.

Pouting thoughtfully, she tried the drink that was brought to them only to cringe at the burn in her throat. "Well, uh, like I said, I'm half-demon, half-angel. I haven't really been accepted because of that. I came here from Hell. I have a complicated relationship with my father, I suppose", she listed things off the top of her head, her final words earning a sad snort from Benjamin who lifted his own drink in a toast.

"I'll drink to that", he inhaled deeply, the words muttered under his breath but loud enough for Orphiel to catch. He didn't give her time to say anything about it, but instead, gave her a promising smile. "That's a lot. But you made it here, didn't you? Lucifer is clearly looking after you and now that I'm here... well, I've been told I'm pretty good at the whole fun uncle thing", he reminded with pride, his optimism catching on and forcing a reinforced smile onto Orphiel's lips, too.

"You're not lying", she pointed out in all fairness, and nodding happily, Benji hoisted his glass once more. Even though Orphiel didn't particularly enjoy the variety of tastes she had been introduced to in the past hour, she picked up her own drink and in a celebratory manner, knocked it against Benjamin's.

A formidable duo sounded about right to her, now.